ACE #428: You Can't Win In Hand to Hand Combat

Last week, my husband and I went to the movies to see Captain America: Civil War.  I have been a Marvel fan for many years, but my husband is new to this world.  Captain America has always been my favorite even though he was running a close race with Thor.

In one of the last fight scenes, Captain America (aka Steve Rogers) and Iron Man (aka Tony Stark) were engaged in heavy combat.  Iron Man's computer told him that he could not beat Captain America in a hand to hand battle.  "Cap" would always be stronger and quicker because of the weight of Iron Man's suit; yet Tony was still swinging...as hard as he could.  


It reminded me that there will be times when our enemies will test us.  They will be functioning from a dark place while we are walking in the light.  We are always supposed to be mindful that we, Christians, don't fight dirty or try to match them; we are to fight in the Spirit through prayer, fasting, and studying the Word of God.

In the end of the movie, it was the use of Captain America's shield that won him the battle. Iron Man had everything he needed in his suit...but he didn't have a shield. Cap's shield protected him from the powerful blows and the fiery beams of Iron Man and every other enemy in the movie. As long as he had his shield, he stayed much more confident while in the fight. It was his shield that ultimately handicapped his enemy and ended the battle.  

We can't win against the enemy in hand to hand combat if we are not properly equipped.  We have to fight from our vantage point - in the Spirit and dressed in the full Armor of God.  So, put your shield up and keep fighting fearlessly!

#faith

The Armor of God

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³ Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. ¹⁹ Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.